Transporter



Nov. 6, 1928.

H. O. NELSON TRANSPORTER Filed April 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 attozlwl o Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,454

H. o. NELSON TRANSPORTER Filed April 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 6, 1928.

H. O. NELSON TRANSPORTER Filed April 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ndv. 6, 1928. 1,690,454

H. O. NELSON TRANSPORTER Filed April 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I P) n WWW/Wm f5}? WWI/[1m .to another.

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES HERMAN OSCER NEIiSON, OF DOTY, WASHINGTON.

TRANSPORTER.

. Application filed April 11, 1927. Serial No. 182,875.

This invention relates to improvements for transporting loads of material along an overhead track or way from one point Devices of the kind in quesiton are capable of a variety of uses, such as loading and unloading vessels, transporting logs in timbering operations, and the like.

Ithas heretofore been proposed to provide a carriage to travel onan overhead track or way, such, for example, as a cable suitably supported, which carriage is provided .With means for automatically engaging the load carrying element to the carriage and disengaging it therefrom. The present invention has for an object to provide a carriage of this description which shall be extremely simple in its construction and. thoroughly cilicient in its, operation, to the end that when the load carrying element is raised into position to be engaged by the carriage, shall he certainly and securely attached thereto without intervention on the part of the operator, and which, when it reaches its destination, shall be automatically released therefrom, the releasing means also serving to secure and retain the carriage in the delivery position on the track or way until the load carrying element is again raised into operative relation with the carriage, whereupon the latter is automatically freed to make the reverse trip along the track or way. Various means have heretofore been provided for effecting these functions, and the present invention constitutes improved means whereby the certainty of operation of the device is secured, while the liability of the same to get out of order is decreased.

.lVhile, as indicated above, the invention is capable of a variety of uses, it is particularly useful in timbering operations for transporting logs from one position to another, as, for example, across a rough section of country, gulches and the like, and such use is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofthe apparatus in operation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the carriage and the load supporting block in operative engagement therewith;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line 3----3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section onthe line 41 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; j

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofcthe,

arrows; V n

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the abutments or stops which serve to bring the carriage to rest and retain it at any position on the track or way to which the stop may be adjusted, and at the same time automatically trip the load supporting block to free it fromthe carriage;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of Fig. 6, looking from the right; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Referring to said drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, 1 and 2 illustrate two suitable supports, here shown in the form of spars, and which, in logging operations, may be two tree trunks, and 3 indicates a suitabletrack or way, here shown as a heavy wire cable, technically known as a skyline, stretchedbetween the spars 1 and 2. This skyline 3 is securely anchored at each end to any suitable anchor, as stumps 4 and 5; 6 is a carriage, to be hereinafter described, traveling on the skyline 3, and 7, 7, are movable abutments also carried on the skyline. As shown in Fig. 1,'these abutments 7 7 are yieldinglyanchored on the skyline adjacent the spars 1 and 2, this anchoring being accomplished by means of cables 8 secured to the abutment-s and passing over the pulleys 9 on the spars, the lower end of the cables being secured to staples 10, 10 driven into the spars.

Located near one of the spars, as spar 2, are two drums 11 and 12 capable of being operated in either direction by a suitable engine or engines, not shown. A main line 13 is secured to the carriage 6 at the point 14, is passed through a block 15 and over a roller 16 on the carriage and a suitable roller 17 on the spar 2 and then around the drum 11. A second line 18, technically known as a haul-back line, extends from the drum 12, adjacent the spar 2, around a pulley 19 suitably anchored adjacent the spar 1, as, for example, to a stump, and

thence to the sheave block to which it is secured. A third line 20, known as the the skyline 3' from right to left, as viewed iirFig. -12 ben the 'carriage arrives at the point where the abutment 7 is secured in position on tlie skyline, the carriage contacts therewith and' by me'ans of mechanism, to be hereinafter described, this contact automatically frees the sheave-" fromthe carriageand causes the carriage itobecome engaged witlr'the abutment; 1 The drum 11' is then operated to permitunwinding of the mainline 13} and the sheave, together with the lbadislowered to the-ground; and the load being disengaged I front" the choke line 20, the drum 1 1 is again operated to elevate the sheave bl'oclt '15 until it again comesin" contact with -thecarriage and is automatically secured thereto. Simultaneously as the sheave block engages with 'the carriage;'theliittei is disengaged from the abutment 7 to'whichithas become secured when it- 'fi'rst made contact therewith; The drums 1-1 and- 1 2 are=then operated to unwind the main line-13 and wind up the liaul b'aclt line 18'unt-il' the carriage makes contact with the abutment'fgon the right of Figwl when it becomes automatically engalged witlr said abutment and simultaneously' frees the sheaveblock" '15 from the carriage further unwinding the main line 155- from the drum- 11, the; sheave is low ered' and anot-her load is secured to the choke lifne 20, whereupon theanain line 13'is'wound up on the' 'drumll and the operation repeat'ed; i l *Theautomatic engagement of the sheave block with the carriage and disengagement therefrom; and the automatic engagement and disengagement "of" the carriage with and from the abutments; ie'efi'ected'by the peculiar -1ne'chanism of the carriage which will now bedesoribed.

Referringstmbigg 2, the carriage consists of two metal. plates 22; 22'- suitably spaced apart and injparallel, vertical planes, and held together by a series otbolts 23. Two of these bolts 23 are located near the top of the carriage and serve as axles 'for two grooved wheels 25 located between the plates, which wheels travel on'the skyline 3.

The two plates 22 and 22/ are recessed at their bottom edges, andon either side ct" said recess is mounted grooved wheels 16. 16each free to turn on one of'the bolts 2?, serving to seoure'the two. plates together.

Mounted between the plates 22 and 22 is a bar 26, see Figs. 4 and 5, which is free. to slide'vertically in a channelformed by the plates 22, 22 and two blocks 27, 27' bolted in position between the plates. The lower end otthisbar is enlarged as shown at 26"" aii d is loeiitedin the recesses of the side plates mentioned above. Said enlargement has an offset part 26", and pivoted at 28 tothexopposite side of the enlargement a clamp member 29. This clamp memberhas aninwardly extendin lip 29", and extending across the enlargedrlpart 26' of the bar 26 is a portion29 passing through a slot-30'inthe portion 26", to which Jarthe i 29 is rigidly secured an arm ZBL member 29; together with the'lip 29' and the portion 29 and the :1133131, constitute oneintegral structure pivoting on the pivot 28; as will be readily-understood from an ins'pection -ofiFiglfi Tothe upper portion and its upper end has pivoted theretoa cat-ch 34, which catch'extends transversely througlnthe slot/33 and the'plate and througha'slot35-in the plate 22, and in a position toengage the upper end of'thearm of the bar 26there is secured an arm 32 31 whenthe lattcrfis adjusted in the full line position. shown in Fig: 5, the catch being-held in engagement-with the arm by gravity.

The sheave block 15 is provided with-a sheave 36 free toturn on a shaft 37 securing the two side plates of the sheave block together. This pulley 36 has an annular rccess 38 formed in one face thereof, to wit, the face that is turned towards-the lip 29 on the member 295 W'hen thesheave block is in the position shown'in Fig. and the parts in position shown in full lines, the sheavebl'ock is supported by the lip 29' engaging with the groove38 in the pulley 36, and is held in this-engaged position by the engagement of the catch 34: witlrthe arm 31.

34, and that said'bar is free to have a limited up and down movement, theextent of which is determined by the distance between the shoulders on the part226, see Fig. 4, and the bottom of the'recess formedin the plates of the carriage. In such up and down move- It will be observed that the bar 26 carries the pivot xneinben-29 antl thecatch' meet all of the parts secured thereto move through the plates and the bars, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4. As the construction of these two bars is exactly. identical, a description of one of them will be sufiicient. The outer end 42 of the bar is enlarged and has a transverse, horizontal slot 43 formed therein. Pivoted to the enlarged head, and to one side of said slot, as at 44, Fig. 3, is a bellcrank-lever 45, one arm of which extends transversely through the slot 43 in the member 42, and has an arm 46 extending at right angles thereto, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 3. The other arm of said bell-crank-lever has an inwardly extending lip 47, and a spring 48 has one end secured to said bell-crankdever adjacent the lip 47, and the other .end secured to an arm 49 extending from the bar 40 outward through a slot 50 formed in the plate 22. The tension of the spring 48 tends to rock the bell-crank-lever 45 on its pivot 44 so as to throw the parts in the full .line position shown to the right of Fig. 3.

When, ho'wey er, the arm 45 is depressed into position parallel with the plate 42 (see full line position to the left of Fig. 3) the lip 47 on the bell-crankdever. extends inwardly.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the inner ends of the two bars 40, 40 are provided with upwardly projecting shoulders 51, 51 and a strong spring 52 reacts between these shoulders, throwing the two bars outward until the shoulders 51, 51 contact with the inner ends of the bars 41, forming slideways for the bars 40, 40. The two bars 40, 40 have on their lower edges,and extending inward toward each other, beveled lugs 53, 53. The inner beveled ends of these lugs are adjacent to the lower edge of the catch 34, but are normally held out of contact therewith by the spring 52. The length of each of the bars 40, 40' such that an inward pressure on the bars sutlicient to overcome the tension of the spring 52 forces the bar inward for a distance sufficient to cause the beveled end to engage the beveled lower side of the catch 34 and elevate the same, thereby lifting the catch and, if the latter is in engagement with the arm 31, freeing the latter. This will permit the member 29 to rock by gravity on the pin 28, throwing the same into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, gravity action beim due to the fact that the greater por tion of the metal is at the right of the pivot pin 28.

Extending outward from the side of the plate 22 are a pair of lugs 54, Fig. 3, between which, on a pin 55, are pivoted two catches 56. 56, the shanks of the catches extending through slots in the plates 22, 22, with the beveled ends of the catches in posi tion to engage the arms 46 when the latter extend parallel to the plate 22, as shown in full lines to the left of Fig. 3. These two catches 56, 56' extend transversely through the carriage just above the upper end of the vertical slide bar- 26, and in such position that when the slide bar is moved upward it lifts both of the catches, thereby freeing either of the arms 46 that may be engaged thereby. These catches 56 and 56 act under the influenceof gravity to again drop into their lowermost position as soon as the slide bar 26 is lowered. Referring now to the right hand end of Fig. 3, if inward pressure he brought to bear on the face of the bellcranlr-lever 45, it will rock said lever on its pivot against the tension of the spring 48, throwing the lip 47 inward towards the part 42 and the arm 46 into a position parallel to the plate 22, which arm, contacting with the bevel face of the catch 56, willraise the catch until it passes behind the shoulder of the catch when the latter will drop and hold the arm with the bellcrank-lever in the position shown in full lines to the left of Fig. 3. This inward pressure on the bellcrank-lever 45 is eifectedavhenthe carriage comes in contact with either one of the abutments 7 or 7. V

These abutments are provided with a suitable shouldered part 57 whicl1, when the carriage comes in contact withth'e abutment, enters between the lip 47, and the opposite face of the part 42 contacts with the face of the bell-crank-lever 45 and turns it on its fulcrum until it assumes the position shown. in full lines to the left of'Fig. 3.. Farther movement of the carriage presses the bar 40 or 40, as the case may be, inward and lifts the catch 34 to free the arm 31.

For the purpose of retaining the carriage in a position adjacentto the abutment, the latter is provided with the shoulder 57 opposite the lip 47 on the bell-crank-lever 45, and when the latter is rocked so as to bring the arm 4-6 parallel with the face of the carriage, the carriage is held in position by engagement of these parts. I

The abutment may. assume a variety of forms and maybe anchored to the skyline in a variety of ways. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown a preferred form consisting of two oppositely disposed vi-shaped plates 58, 58 having rollers 59 mounted between them at their upper ends on aides 60 in the form of bolts extending between the two plates. These rollers travel on the skyline 3. A bar 61 is bolted between the plates 58 and 58 immediatel beneath the skyline, and to one end of this bar is pivoted a downwardly extending lever provided with a plate 63. Extending laterally at right angles to plate 63 is the shoulder 57 before referred to, see Figs. 3 and 6. Pivoted to the lower end of the lever 62 is a horizontally extending bar 64 having a series of notches 65 formed in the lower edge thereof, which notches engaged. pin. 66in the form of: a. bolt ex; tending throughithe plates 58, 58. The position of: the lever62 and'withait theinclina? tion'ofr the shoulder 57 canbe adjusted depending upon which one ofthe, notches '65 engages the pin 68;. and when the desired adjustment is attained; it is retained in the adj ustedi position against accidentali displacement by a: bolt 67 extending through the. plates 58, 58 immediately above'the bar 64;, as Willbe readily, understood from an inspection: of. Figs. 6, T'and 8''.' This matter of theadjustment of the angle of inclinationisimportantz. The; skyline 3 in actual practice is nothorizontal. The skyline is lowesttneari the center,='and as the-carriage approaches anabutment it travels open incline and'hence the abutting shoulder should be inclined at an angle to the perpendicular to securethe best-results On a portion of the abutment adjacent to the spar is provided a ring 68, see Fig 6, to' which the cable 8 may be secured when itisdesired to anchor the abutment'on' the skyline 3. in the manner shown in Fig. "1, as 'hereinbefore described. In some cases,.howevcr,- it is found desirable to anchor the abutment some distance from! the spar f and"; so itcan' only have alimited movement on the: skyline, this limited. movement. being essential in orden that the abutment. may act yieldingly to bring. the carriage toaastop. without too great. a strain on the parts.

Referring now? to: Fig. 63.69 isaa pulley supported as at 70 from: the; cross-bars 61: of the abutment.) By passing a suitable cable over this pulley 69 and securely anchoring its ends, asto stumps on opposite sides of the skyline, the abutment may be held imposition: onlthei skyline so asto be capable of only aslimitedrmovement thereon. 0pemtion.-Let it: be. assumed thatthe load is securedto the cholieline 20011 the sheave block 15 and thatztheslatter has been elevated by the mainline13untilthe'pulley. 36 contacts with the inner'lower face; of the part 29, whichlatter is in' the: position shown IlIllClOilliBCl' lines in Fig: 5.. Thiswill result'in' rocking the part29 on its pivot'28, thereby throwing the lip29' into the groove*38 ofi.

the sheave 36, and: throwing the arm 31inward substantially parallel: with the face ofthe carriage, in which movement: it will; engage the bevel face ofthe'catcli 34 andilift' thesame'until the arm passes the'bevel face, when said catch. \Vlll'i drop and engage the arm 31. thereby securing. the sheave block and with it the loadicarriedf therehyto the carriage; The continued upwardl movement of the sheave block will impart an upward movement to the bar 26, lifting the catches 56,156 and. thereby permitting the bellcrank-levers toassnme the position shown in dotted lines tothe left of; Fig. 31 Continued winding up. of the maim line 13. on

the druun 11- will; then cause the carriage" to advancei'rom rightvtoleft Fig. 1', the haulbaclc line l8i-beingsat the sametiine paidout from:the drum 1 1 as previously:descuibed; Then the carriage reaches the position of the abutment T, the sliouldcrcdpart 57 of said abutment will enter'betwcen the part 42. andthe lip' 47 and engage the face of the bell-crank-lever 45, rocking said bellcrank-lever on its pivot and throwing the lip 47in front of the shoulder 57 on the abutment, and throwing the arnr46 on the bell-crank-lever .451 into position substantially parallel with thewface of the carriage where-it will: be: engaged by oneof the catches 56,. 56 this movement oi the bellcrank beingi'efiected against the tensionof the springelS. The continued movement, of the carriageafter the members have assumed this positionwilliorce the bar 40 inward, causing; tl'IG'lJBVGlBClSllOllldOl? 58 on said bar topass under the bevel of the catch 3% lifting it and freeing; the arm 81. By reason of the weight carried on lip 29, the element 29'1nay rock on its lever 28', thus freeing the sheave block and: pcrmittingit to fallnwhcn the main line 13 is unwound from' the drum 11. The log being; released from the choke line, the main line is again wound up on the drum 11 until the she-ave blocle isagain lifted llltOiIJOSltlOIl toengage the element 29, rocking it so asto throw the arm 31 into engagement with thecatch 34. Further elevation of the sheave block, through the pull on the main line 13, serves to impart an up ward thrust to the bar 26, thereby lifting the catches- 56, 56 and freeing the lip l7 from the lip 57. In this position otthe parts, the haul-back line is wound upon the drum 12,.and the main line is paid out from the drum-11 and the-carriage is" returned from the position on the left of Fig. 1 to the position on the right thereof, and when it comes in eontactwith the abutment 7, the sheave block is freed in the prec se manner just described in connection with the chute ment 7 ,whereupon the main line is further paidout andithe sheave block lowered, and anotherload, as a second log. secured thereto and the operation repeated.

In actual logging operations, these parts aremade'very heavy andvery strong The carriageyfor example, weighs approximately a= ton; while the two abutments weigh approximately 600 pounds. It will be perceivedthat all of the parts are extremely simple in construction and operation, are capableofbeing made very strong so as to withstand-the severe duties to which they are put inoperation, that they effect thcir functions automatically, while serving to hold thet'heavy'loads carried with absolute security, thus reducing to a minimum the danger involved? in their operation While one illustrative embodiment of the horizontally sliding members each with an abutment-engaging shoulder on its outwardly extending end, a downwardly extending sliding memberhaving a sheave block supporting shoulder on its lower end, catches for retaining the several shoulders in engaging relation, means actuated by the downwardly extending sliding member for tripping the catches of the abutment-engaging shoulders, and means actuated by the horizontally sliding members for tripping the catch of the sheave block engaging shoulder. p

2. In a device of the character described,

the combinationof a track or way, a carriage mounted to travel thereon, a vertically movable slide bar on said carriage and projecting downward therefrom, said bar having an offset on its lower end, ,a shouldered member pivoted to said bar on the opposite side from said offset and having a part extending transverse to said bar and through a slot in said ofi'set, an arm secured to said part, a catch for engaging said arm, and a sheave block engaging saidt-ransversely extending part to rock said shouldered member into engagement with said catch and with a shoulder on said sheave block,

3. In a device of the character described, a carriage, two horizontally disposed oppositely extending slides carried thereby and each having an end projecting therefrom, a shouldered member pivoted to each projecting end and having a part extending transversely thereto, a pair of oppositely. disposed shouldered abutments in the path of said carriage in a position to be engaged by said transversely extending part to rock said shouldered members on their pivots, whereby the shoulders on said members and said abutments may be interlocked, catches forretaining said parts in interlocking po sition, and sheave block actuated means for freeing'said catches.

4. In a device of the character described, a carriage, a horizontally extending slide carried thereby, a spring normally holding said slide in its outermost position, a shouldered part pivoted on the outer end of said slide and extending across the same, a gravity actuated catch for engaging said shoulderedpart, a spring tending to throw said part against the resistance of said catch, and

a sheave block actuated slide for lifting said catch.

5. In a device of the character described, a carriage comprising two spaced vertical parallel plates, two oppositely disposed abutment clamps slidably mounted between said plates, catches for retaining the same in clamping position, a sheave block clamp also slidably mounted between said plates, a catch for retaining the same in clamping position, said abutment clamp catches being released by the sliding movement of the sheave block clamp and the sheave block catches being released by the slldmg movement of either of the abutment clamps.

6. In a device of the character described, a carriage comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed parallelplates, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally sllding abutment clamp members, a spring reacting be tween said members, apivote jaw on each clamp member, springs for opening said 'jaws, a catch for each jaw to hold the same closed, and a sheave block actuated member for tripping said catches.

7. In a device of the character described,

a pair of spaced vertically disposed parallel plates, a vertically disposed sliding sheave block clamp member, a pivoted jaw on said clamp member opened by gravity, a catch for holding said closed, two oppositely dis posed abutment actuated slides, a spring reacting between said two slides, the inner end of each of said slides being in operative relation with said catch to trip the same on an inward movement of the slide. I V

8. In a device of the character described, 0

and tripping said catch to free said sheave block.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a track or way, an abutment thereon, a carriage mounted to travel on said track or way and a sheave-block with means for elevating said sheave-block into engagement with said (carriage, a catch for securing said sheave-block to the carriage, a

catch for securing the carriage to said abutment, and a slide operated by the said,

sheave-block, aid slide successively closing said first-named catch and tripping said lastnamed catch. 7 p v In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

HERMAN OSCER NELSON. V 

